Nano LiMn₂O₄ as cathode material of high rate capability for lithium ion batteries

A nanochain of LiMn₂O₄ was prepared by a sol-gel method using an aqueous solution of metal salts containing starch. Its electrochemical behavior was characterized by cyclic voltammography, capacity measurement and cycling performance. The results obtained show that the nanochain LiMn₂O₄ cathode has a very good rate capability. It shows a reversible capacity of 100 mAh g?1 at 100 mA g?1 (about 1 C) and 58 mAh g^?1 even at a charge rate of 20 C. In addition, when the cathode is charged at 1°C, 70 mAh g^?1 (70% capacity at 1°C) can be achieved even at a discharge rate of 50 C, with a cut-off voltage of 3.0 V in 1 M LiClO₄ solution of EC/DEC/DMC (1:1:1, v/v/v). Furthermore, the cycling behavior of the cathode is also very satisfactory. This suggests that this nanochain LiMn2O4 has great promise for practical application as high rate cathode material for lithium ion batteries.